Punjab mulls tightening nose around poachers
The provincial government, in a bid to curb illegal hunting, has proposed the confiscation of weapons as a punishment for wildlife poachers. Whereas, trophy hunting quotas for the Punjab Aryal and the Himalayan Ibex species is yet to be decided by the federal government. “We want to bring the quality of wildlife in Punjab at par with European countries,” commented Punjab Wildlife Honorary Game Warden Badar Munir, while addressing the province’s conservation efforts. The previous year, almost 2,800 poachers were fined for a sum of Rs19 million by Punjab Wildlife for poaching various birds and animals. Hunting birds and animals during breeding season is a tantamount crime, which directly affects animal population and jeopardises the survival of endangered species,” Munir told The Express Tribune.
Source:The Express Tribune
October 23, 2020 04:18 UTC
1.5m clients unaffected by tariff rise: KE
As many as 1.5 million of K-Electric’s (KE’s) clients, comprising residential consumers whose monthly electricity usage does not exceed 300 units, will not be affected by an increase of up to Rs2.89 per unit in KE’s power tariff, the power utility claimed in a statement issued on Thursday. “The increase, which has also been ratified by the Cabinet Division, will not be applicable on the most vulnerable consumer segment,” the statement read. The Ministry of Energy had notified the increase in KE’s power tariff earlier this month, to bring it at par with those of other electricity distribution companies in the country in line with the government’s uniform tariff policy. Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2020.
Source:The Express Tribune
October 23, 2020 03:45 UTC
1602481300-0/Lahore-Zoo-(3)1602481300-0.jpeg)
SHC issues notices over zoo animals’ state
The petitioners told the court that the animals were in pain, starved, suffering from the heat and kept in an unhealthy environment at the Rani Bagh zoo. "We have also come to know that the animals aren't being given proper food, water and care in the cages." They recalled that the zoo, located in the sprawling Rani Bagh, was originally established in 1861 as an agro-horticultural society. It is currently under the administration of the Qasimabad municipal committee, but a contractor is responsible for the animals' food and care. The petitioners claimed the contractor was not meeting the animals' food requirements and, consequently, they appeared to be starving.
Source:The Express Tribune
October 23, 2020 03:45 UTC
Tele-ICU to aid in virtual care
A tele-intensive care unit (ICU) facility has been launched in Pakistan to provide online consultancy in the area of critical care across all public and private hospitals in the country. It has been introduced keeping in view the dearth of critical care specialists in Pakistan and lack of healthcare facilities in remote areas. According to the Pakistan Medical Association president, at present, the country has just 50 to 70 critical care specialists to cater to a population of 200 million. "Such innovative platforms will facilitate the availability of critical, lifesaving health services to women and girls," Dr Kadirov said. The tele-ICU facility will allow doctors to connect with critical care consultants and registrars online around the clock.
Source:The Express Tribune
October 23, 2020 03:33 UTC
SC adjourns Daniel Pearl murder case for four weeks
But the Sindh High Court (SHC) in April acquitted him, a move that stunned the US government, Pearl’s family and journalism advocacy groups. The acquittal is now being appealed separately by the government and Pearl’s family, a process that under the law could take years. Faisal Siddiqi, who is representing Pearl’s family, said he was surprised by the four-week adjournment, saying he had asked for an expeditious handling of the case. Pearl, 38, was the South Asia bureau chief for Wall Street Journal when he was abducted in Karachi in January 2002 while researching a story about religious extremists in the city. Omer Sheikh was arrested in 2002 and sentenced to death by the trial court.
Source:Pakistan Today
October 23, 2020 03:33 UTC
SBP plans steps for boosting exports
PBC said authorities should allow exporters to acquire tangible and intangible assets abroad for accelerating the growth of exports. The additional measures are aimed at boosting the country’s exports, which is a major challenge to the country’s economic managers. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) allows exporters to keep 10-35% of their export earnings in their foreign currency accounts. The central bank has offered the exporters to spend the retained money abroad on multiple counters compared to a few counters at present. Besides, the central bank is also considering allowing the use of retained funds on a couple of other counters abroad.
Source:The Express Tribune
October 23, 2020 03:00 UTC
Rupee strengthens against dollar
The rupee strengthened against the dollar at Rs161.82 in the inter-bank market on Thursday compared with Wednesday’s close of Rs162.13, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Earlier, the SBP let the rupee depreciate massively in the inter-bank market after finalisation of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a loan programme on May 12, 2019. The IMF has asked Pakistan to end state control of the rupee and let the currency move freely to find its equilibrium against the US dollar and other major world currencies. Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2020. Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.
Source:The Express Tribune
October 23, 2020 03:00 UTC
Moving from crisis to crisis
There is a perception that to enable an incompetent administration to continue in office the establishment has provided it props. With a prime minister who does not know how to deal with a political crisis except with a confrontational approach, those providing him support are likely to come under criticism . If all institutions work within their constitutional domain and refrain from interfering in the spheres of others, the country would run smoothly. It was for Karachi police to decide whether, and under which law, a case was to be registered against Captain (rtd) Safdar. The federal government has again tried to cover up its ineptness by accusing the Sindh administration of confronting institutions against one another.
Source:Pakistan Today
October 22, 2020 20:15 UTC
Opp moves House for parliamentary probe of Capt Safdar’s arrest
The opposition parties put forth a resolution in the Senate regarding the formation of a committee to look into the arrest of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Captain (r) Safdar Awan. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman said that the the upper house should also be allowed to play its role. She agreed with the tabling of the resolution by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Raja Zafarul Haq, and further warned that the matter could have serious consequences if the parliament does not take action. “The police force is an armed and uniformed force, and this force registered their protest by applying for leave. PROVINCIAL COMMITTEE:Separately, it merged on Thursday that Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani will head the provincial cabinet committee formed to probe the registration of an FIR against the PML-N leader.
Source:Pakistan Today
October 22, 2020 19:18 UTC
Meezan Bank’s nine-month profit surges 65pc to Rs18.1bn
KARACHI: The Meezan Bank Board of Directors met on Thursday to approve the financial statement for the nine-month period ending September 30. Meezan Bank’s other income grew by 7pc, from Rs6.72 billion last year to Rs7.17 billion this year. The recent results have proven Meezan Bank’s position as the leading Islamic bank in the country. Meezan Bank originally started off in 1997 as Al-Meezan Investment Bank, an Islamic investment bank. Since 2001, Meezan Bank’s deposit base has grown at an average rate of 37.7pc per year.
Source:Pakistan Today
October 22, 2020 18:45 UTC
Safdar’s arrest: PML-N leader raises questions over PPP’s shifting of blame
ISLAMABAD: In a new twist to the arrest of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Captain (r) Safdar Awan, the former ruling party has asked the leadership of Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) and Sindh government to come clean on Safdar’s arrest. He argued that if the federal government means Imran Khan, the PPP must clarify as who was ordered by Imran Khan to carry out this operation. In the same breath, the PPP also claims that [the army] was not involved but the culprit was Imran Khan. So then, the PPP should also tell us through which alien creature did Imran Khan carry out this whole operation,” demanded Mohammad Zubair. PPP leader Senator Maula bakhsh Chandio, who was present on the occasion, tried to explain the entire situation to Zubair.
Source:Pakistan Today
October 22, 2020 18:45 UTC
NITB providing e-office portals to 12 out of 40 ministries
ISLAMABAD: The National Information Technology Board (NITB) has so far provided e-office portals to just 12 divisions and ministries of the 4o that it had previously promised, sources told Pakistan Today. The NITB briefed the Cabinet Committee on Institutional reform (CCIR) on the implementation of the e-offices in the ministries and divisions. Out of 40 ministries and divisions, 28 are at stage 2, which means that requisite hardware has not been provided. The forum also highlighted that automation of e-office portals may also require appropriate amendments in rules of business. NITB said that the security features of the new version of e-office are being improved.
Source:Pakistan Today
October 22, 2020 18:17 UTC
Agha Steel makes a strong entry to stock market
KARACHI: The Agha Steel Industries Limited’s initial public offering (IPO) will result in Agha Steel becoming the third company to be listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange in the fiscal year 2021. The issue of Agha Steel Industries Ltd consists of 120 million ordinary shares or 20.83pc of the total post-IPO paid-up capital. The issue was offered through 75pc (90 million shares) book building method and 25pc (30 million shares) retail/general public portion. Speaking about the successful IPO of Agha Steel Ltd, Farrukh H Khan, CEO of PSX, stated, “The year 2020 has shown tremendous growth in terms of offerings on the equity board and debt sector of PSX. Bankers to the book building part of the issue was Habib Bank Limited whereas bankers to the retail portion were UBL, Habib Metropolitan Bank Limited, HBL, Bank Al-Habib Limited, Meezan Bank Limited, Faysal Bank Limited, Soneri Bank Limited, Askari Bank Limited and MCB Bank Limited.
Source:Pakistan Today
October 22, 2020 17:48 UTC
IPRI says Asim Bajwa prime target of Indian propaganda
The Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) has claimed that its data analysis of social media shows an uptick in online Indian propaganda since the 2018 elections in Pakistan, with China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Chairman Lieutenant General (r) Asim Saleem Bajwa having been their primary target for the last few months. In a statement issued on Thursday, the institute purported that the purpose of India’s propaganda tactics has been to cause civil unrest in the country and that it has been doing so since 2018, but added that since August 2020, the primary target has been General Bajwa in an attempt to sabotage CPEC. The IPRI asserted that Indian propaganda comprises of 4 key elements; namely, the campaign against Pakistan Army, the stroking of civil unrest in Pakistan, the propaganda on Kashmir and the sabotaging of CPEC. According to the information shared by IPRI, some of the tactics employed by the propaganda machine have been claims of a civil war in Karachi, creating issues in the Afghan peace process, the spreading of fake news vis-a-vis the Balakot airstrike, Indian newspaper articles on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) bills, media campaigns against Prime Minster Imran Khan, as well as attempts to isolate Pakistan internationally.
Source:Pakistan Today
October 22, 2020 13:12 UTC
PSX breaks bullish streak as index falls 336 points
KARACHI: A three-day long bullish streak broke on Thursday as the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed in the negative amid profit booking. Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index lost 794.61 points to close at 65,635.60, while the KSE All Share Index dropped 247.13 points, settling at 29,046.21. The overall market volumes fell from 661.19 million shares in the previous session to 500.09 million shares (-25pc). Sectors that dragged the benchmark index south included oil & gas exploration (-109.88 points), power generation & distribution (-85.13 points) and oil & gas marketing (-38.11 points). Among the companies, Hub Power Company Ltd (HUBC -71.15 points), Oil and Gas Development Company Ltd (OGDC -40.17 points) and Pak Petroleum Ltd (PPL -33.19 points) dented the index the most.
Source:Pakistan Today
October 22, 2020 12:53 UTC